You know your teen better than anyone. That’s usually why you noticed before they said anything, and why it’s stayed on your mind since.
Adolescence asks a great deal of a person. New pressure, a changing sense of self, friendships that carry more weight than most of us remember. Most teens come through it beautifully with the right people around them, and wanting a little more support for yours is a caring instinct rather than a worrying sign.
Counseling simply gives your son or daughter one more steady place to sort things out, with someone whose whole job is to listen well and take them seriously.
The work is gentle, practical, and it builds over time.
Parental consent is required for clients under 18. We’ll walk you through what that involves.
You are welcomed and an important part of this. Depending on your child’s wishes, you’ll know how the work is going and what we’re focusing on. If anything affects your teen’s safety, you will absolutely be informed. We value parental involvement while honoring your child’s privacy.
We also look after your teen’s privacy carefully, because a young person who feels safe in the room is a young person who really uses it. We’ll talk all of this through together in the first session, so everyone knows what to expect and nothing feels uncertain.
If you found your way here on your own, that says something good about you.
A few things you might like to know.
What you share with me stays with me. There are a small number of exceptions, all of them about keeping you safe, and I’ll explain them right at the start so nothing ever takes you by surprise.
Your parents’ involvement is highly encouraged and often needed, and I care about them too. This is still your space though, and I look after it carefully, so you can say things out loud without bracing for a reaction.
And you don’t need to be having a hard time to come. Plenty of the people I see simply wanted somewhere to think.
Mia Pankratov, LPCC, works with teens, adults, couples, and families.
She was adopted from China and raised here in Colorado, in a family that looks nothing like her. She went to a Christian school. She also spent part of high school in counseling herself, at a point when she had no words at all for what she was feeling.
She brings all of that with her, along with training that’s current and a real fondness for this age group. Teens usually feel that fairly quickly.
*If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is there 24 hours a day, by call or text, at 988.
If your teen is having thoughts of hurting themselves, please reach out to one of those now rather than waiting for an appointment. When the moment has passed and you’re ready, we’ll be here for the longer work.
The first session usually includes parents for a little while, and then the time belongs to your teen. After that it’s mostly them, with check-ins for you along the way.
We meet in person in Lakewood, or online anywhere in Colorado. Online tends to work better with this age group than people expect.
Parental consent is needed for clients under 18, and we’ll walk you through all of that. It’s simpler than it sounds.
You don’t need the right words, or a clear explanation, before you reach out. A short and easy conversation is usually all it takes to know whether this feels like the right place to begin.
